-- When Heinz Schroeder first took over ownership of Rugger's Up & Under in 1994, his bar had 10 tap handles that carried a couple Bell's Brewery Inc. brands.

Up & Under now has 36 handles, two-thirds of which typically pour Michigan craft beer, and not just Bell's. The bar is one of several businesses within a few blocks in downtown Kalamazoo that emphasize Mitten-made suds.

“It’s a friendly competition. Everybody is always trying to come up with new ideas, new beers ... Kalamazoo has really come a long way," Schroeder said.

In addition to Up & Under, Kalamazoo also boasts Shakespeare's Pub, Old Burdick's Bar & Grill, Kalamazoo Beer Exchange, O'Duffy's Pub, Harvey's on the Mall, Central City Tap House, Gallagher's Eatery & Pub, Food Dance and other bars and restaurants serving Michigan brew. Kalamazoo Beer Week went from 20 events in 2010 to 100 events around several businesses last year. The event will return in January.

About five years ago, as Michigan's craft-beer industry started picking up momentum, Schroeder added several handles to give his bar the most in the city. He didn't know it, but he inadvertently started a light-hearted tap war amongst local watering holes.

Ted Vadella, co-owner of Shakespeare's Pub a few blocks east of Up & Under, didn't like the notion of Up & Under wearing the handle crown. His bar had 31 taps, so Vadella, and business partner Scott Makohn decided to go to 37 handles, to one-up on Up & Under. Last winter, Old Burdick's expanded its tap total to 40 and printed T-shirts touting its claim to the title.

Within a day of hearing of Old Burdick's latest tally, Vadella said he installed more handles, giving him 44.

Vadella said he sells around 3,000 barrels a year (100 pints per barrel) and about half of that is Michigan beer. “At this point in Michigan, the beer speaks for itself," he said.

But there is more to the craft beer culture than just the number of taps. The businesses are also vying to get rare beers, or serve popular brews first. They also aim for a unique experience and atmosphere.

In November 2010, the Kalamazoo Beer Exchange opened, a little jaunt across East Kalamazoo Avenue from Shakespeare's Pub. The Kalamazoo Beer Exchange features real-times sales, like the stock market, with prices that rise and fall with customer buying habits. With 28 taps, owner Jim Flora said the emphasis isn't on the most handles for him, it's about fresh beer and a constantly changing lineup of brews. He said he sells around 4,000 pints of beer a week.

In June, The Street, an online financial news site, named Grand Rapids/Kalamazoo as one of the nations "10 Best Vacation Cities for Beer Lovers." While Flora gives kudos to Grand Rapids and its craft beer scene, he's a homer.

"If you're a beer guy, there's not a better town," Flora said of Kalamazoo.

In the summer of 2010, Central City Tap House opened with 19 handles, including usually about nine handles of Michigan beer at any time. Like Flora, Tap House general manager Brandon Banicki said each place has its own philosophy or specialty. In the two years since the business on the Kalamazoo Mall opened, Banicki said he's seen the craft beer culture grow.

He doesn't see it ending anytime soon and said there's room for more.

"I don’t see us at a peak of it. I don’t see us peaking at all. It just keeps getting better and better. The more beer bars the better," Banicki said.